Amusement device



July 14, 1931. A, M ER 1,814,520

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed March 7, 1930 HWWW Patented July 14, 1931 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALEXANDER MILLER, OF DONORA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO MOSE MILLER, OF DONORA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND HIMSELF, AS TRUSTEES AMUSEMENT innvron Y Application filed March 7,

This invention relates to vices. I p

An object of this invention is to provide an amusementdevice with which spheres, such amusement deas pool orbilliard balls and the like, andcues junction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the amusementdevicearranged and constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in section of the device taken online II -II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in section of a knoll or plateau forming a part ofthe amusement device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 taken on line IIIIII thereof;

Fig. 4 is a View in section of the knoll or plateau taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Fig, 5 is a partialview in section of the knoll or plateau taken on line V- V of Figs.

1 and 2 and Fig. 6 is a view in section of a resilient peg, I

forming part of the amusement device.

Throughout the specification and draw ings' like reference characters indicate like,

arts. p Referring more particularly toFigs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, an amusement device 1 is shown that 1 comprises an inclined base or member 2 supported at the center thereof on a wedge shaped member 3' and at theback and sides by an er'rclosuremember 4. The enclosure member 4 at the back side of the base or inclined member 2' extends upwardly as indicated at 5.

The base or inclined j member 21m'ay" beformed from any suitable material although 1930. Serial no. 433,903.

the material shown is, a composite or laminated wood structure that comprises a core 6 of wood and relatively thin strips 7 and 8 also of wood securely joined or attached to the cor'e16. The inclined base member 2 being of this type of material will not warp or become distorted so as to destroy or roughen its upper or working surface base.

The front side of the base or member 2 is divided by partitions 9 into a plurality of pockets which in turn are divided into two groups of pockets 1-1 and 12. As shown, each group contains the same number of pockets and in this particular instance each group comprises seven pockets.

Each pocket in the groups 11 and 12 is provided with a card or indicia. As illustrated, the pockets in each group are numbered 7, 8, 9, 13', 14;, 15. The indicia may take the form of cards or strips having a number thereon, as shown. The cards may be removably supported in clips 15 attached to a bevelededge 16 of a strip 17 which forms a closure meniber'for the pockets at the front raised portion 5 of the enclosure member 4. 1

Theknoll or plateau also slopes downwardly from each side of an extended median line 22 of the runway 18. The plateau or knoll 21 is provided with a pocket or recess 23 for receiving a sphereor pool ball 24:. In this particular instance the sphere is a pool ball and bears the number 7 and in pool hall parlance is known "as the seven-ball.

Because of the complex curvature of the knoll or plateau 21, the player or players cannot control the direction in which the balls will travel after they enter the runway. Therefore,jthe game is of such a character or plateau 21. For convenience the recesses 25 and 26 may be placed near to the back of the inclined base or member 2 and on a median line of the respective groups of pockets 11 and 12 running from the front to the back thereof. The recesses 25 and 26 are disposed to receive pool or billiard balls 27 and 28,

respectively, and to hold these balls stationary until they are struck by a moving sphere or pool. hall.

The inclined base or member 2 is provided with a plurality of rows of spaced resilient pegs 30 that extend upwardly in a vertical direction from the base to which they are attached. As shown in Fig. 1, the resilient pegs 30 are so placed that the pegs of one row are staggered with respect to the pegs in another row. As shown these pegs are placed between the entrance to the pockets in groups 11 and 12 and the balls or spheres 27 and 28. The pegs 3O operate to deflect pool or billiard balls, as they roll down the base 2, in uncertain directions but permit the balls to roll into the pockets. The arrangement of the pegs is such that it cannot be determined by the players into which pocket the balls will come to rest.

The resilient pegs 30 are illustrated in detail in Fig. 6. As there shown the peg 30 comprises a wood screw 31 and a resilient sleeve 32 closed at the top and open at the bottom so that the portion of the wood screw extending above the inclined base 2 will be covered thereby. The sleeve 32 may be formed of any suitable resilient material, such as rubber for example. lVhile a wood screw is illustrated, it is to be understood that bolts or other forms of pegs may be employed and covered with a sleeve 32.

In playing the game, the amusement device 1 is placed upon a pool or billiard table, or upon any table which is large enough to accommodate the amusement device and each player is given six balls. The halls are numbered according to the numbers appearing in the indicia of the front or closed ends of the pockets in groups 11 and 12. Any number of players may play the game.

If the amusement device is used in connection with pool or billiard tables, it is placed on one end of the table and the balls are shot with a one stick from a predetermined point called the spot located at the other end of the table, the shot being so directed that the ball will enter the runway 18. If the ball is shot with suflicient force it will roll up the runway and over the knoll or plateau and the ball is deflected.

If for example, the 7-ball is shot by a player and it comes to rest in the pocket 7, the player is given 14 points. In other words he is given a score double the value of the number on the ball. Should the 7-ball come to rest in any of the other pockets except the star pocket, the player receives in points the number appearing on the pocket, fifteen points if the 7 -ball comes to rest in pocket 15. Also, if the 7-ball or any ball which is shot by the player comes to rest in one or the other of the star pockets in the group of pockets 11 and 12, he is given a score in points equal to twice the value of the number on the ball, for example, thirty pointsif the 15-ball comes to rest in the fifteen pocket.

It is to be understood that each player may shoot six balls, one at a time with a cue stick. If any of the balls so shot carom off the 7 -ball and strike one orthe other of the balls 27 or 28 and cause it to roll down the board so that it finally comes to rest in one of the pockets, the player receives a score depending upon which pocket the ball which is shot comes to. rest and also upon the pocket in which the balls 27 or 28 come to rest.

If the balls 27 and 28 come to rest in the star pockets, the player does not receive any points, but if they come to rest in any of the other pockets his score is increased by a number of points equal to double the value of the number on the pocket. After each player has played all of, his balls, the total number of points made by each player is determined. The game may be arranged so that the player obtaining the highest total number of points is declared the winner.

In laying the game, it is not necessary that the balls be shot with such force that they will necessarily strike the ball 24 mounted in the recess 23. If theballs merely pass the ends of the guide members 19 and 20, they will rollofi the plateau or knoll 21 because it slopes or curves downwardly on both sides of the median line 22 towards the base 2. The curvature and shape of the plateau or-knoll is best illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive. These figures illustrate clearly why it is not possible to so control the balls, as they are shot, that the player can determine to which side of the median line 22 the balls will roll. 4

In order to make it more difficult to cause the balls to enter the pockets 15 in each group 11 and 12, guide wings 34 are placed at the sides of the pockets and against the enclosure member 4. As shown, these wings are curved or tapered at 35 so as to deflect those balls which hug the side members of the enclosure 4:, away from the end pockets 15.

While various modifications and changes may be made in the amusement device herein shown and described without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that only such limitations shall be placed on the invention as are imposed by the prior art and the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A game device comprising an inclined base having an enclosure at the back and sides thereof, a guideway entering from the front thereof and terminating in a raised knoll of complex curvature sloping symmetrically on opposite sides of the runway and merging into the surface of the base.

2. A game device comprising an inclined base having an enclosure at the back and sides thereof, a guideway entering from the front thereof and terminating in a raised knoll of complex curvature sloping symmetrically on opposite sides of the runway and merging into the surface of the base, and a spherical object on said knoll located near to the back thereof and on a longitudinal median line of the runway and knoll.

'3. A game device comprising an inclined base having an enclosure at the back and sides thereof, a guideway entering from the front thereof and terminating in a raised knoll of complex curvature sloping symmetrically away from opposite sides of a longitudinal median line of the runway and merging into the surface of the base.

4. A game device comprising an inclined base having an enclosure at the back and sides thereof and a group of pockets at the front side, a knoll at the back of said base and a runway entering from the front of said base merging into the knoll and dividing said pockets into two groups of pockets, said knoll sloping generally upward to the enclosure at the back of said base and generally downward from each side of a median line passing longitudinally along the runway and merging with the base. 4

5. A game device comprising an inclined base having an enclosure at the back and sides thereof and a group of pockets at the front side, a knoll at the middle back portion of said base, a runway entering from the front of said base merging into the knoll and dividing said base into two similar divisions each having a group of pockets, said knoll sloping generally downward from each side of a median line passing along the runway and knoll and merging into the base, and a sphere stationarily mounted on said knoll on said median line.

6. A game device comprising an inclined base having an enclosure at the back and sides thereof and a group of pockets at the front side, a knoll at the middle back portion of said base, a runway entering from the front of said base merging into the knoll and dividing said base into two similar divisions each having a group of pockets, said knoll sloping generally downward from each side of a median line passing along the runway and knoll and merging into the base, a sphere stationarily mounted on said knoll on said median line and a sphere for each division of said base above said pockets and arranged to roll down the base when struck by a moving sphere.

7. A game device comprising an inclined base having an enclosure at the back and sides thereof and a group of pockets at the front side, a knoll at the middle back por tion of said base, a runway entering from the front of said base merging into the knoll and dividing said base into two similar divisions each having a group of pockets, said knoll sloping generally downward from each side of a median line passing along the runway and knoll and merging into the base, a sphere stationarily mounted on said knoll on said median line, a sphere for each division of said base above said pockets and arranged to roll down the base when struck by a moving sphere and a plurality of rows of resilient pegs extending upwardly from said base, said rows being located between the pockets and the spheres on said base.

8. In combination, an inclined member having pockets at its lowermost edge and a plurality of spaced pegs arranged in staggered relation on said member, a runway entering from the lowermost side of said inclined member at substantially the middle thereof, and a knoll on said member forming a continuation of said runway, said knoll sloping upwardly along an extended median line of the runway and downward towards said inclined member from each side of the extended median line.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this tth day of March, 1930.

ALEXANDER MILLER. 

